LA Angels Pitcher Chase Silseth Wins Debut Over A’s 2–0

Andrew Velazquez #4 of the Los Angeles Angels is congratulated by Taylor Ward #3 after Velazquez hit a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the fifth inning at RingCentral Coliseum, in Oakland, Calif., on May 13, 2022. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Fresh from Minor League Double-A , Chase Silseth threw six shutout innings in his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Angels (22–12) leading to 2–0 victory at Oakland A’s (14–20) Friday night.

As the 21-year-old 11th-round draft pick from the University of Arizona, Silseth became the first player from the 2021 draft class to reach the Major League.

“I’m speechless, I’m still processing everything,” Silseth said. “Heck of a day, heck of a day. It’s a dream to get a phone call or manager telling you that you’re going to the big leagues to start a game. When I was initially told, I was emotional because my uncle died this past fall and the last thing he told me was I was going to make it. So that was for him tonight.”

The New Mexico native was just promoted having dominated at the Angel’s Double-A Rocket City farm club, with a 1.73 ERA in five starts, including 37 strikeouts in 26 innings.

Silseth allowed just one hit in six innings, striking out four, and walking two before being relieved after throwing 81 pitches in front of his family who was in attendance.

He became the second player in Angels’ history to pitch six or more innings giving up one hit or less in a debut. Rudy May also threw a one-hitter in nine innings in his maiden start against the Tigers in April 1965.

Chase Silseth #63 of the Los Angeles Angels making his major league debut pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the second inning at RingCentral Coliseum, in Oakland, Calif., on May 13, 2022. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

“I loved the first pitch of the game,” said Angels Manager Joe Maddon. “It means it was in control of his emotions and nothing was too quick. He dotted it at 96 mph [on his first pitch] and he continued to do that.”

Silseth recorded his first career strikeout in the first inning against Sheldon Neuse with a variety of pitches ranging from a missed fastball of 98.4 mph to a 96.9 mph four-seamer for a strike, an 85.6 mph slider, and an 87.8 mph splitter.